An Astros coach finds time for a father's moment

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, and former player Merton Hanks walk off the stage after announcing Washington's Dante Pettis as the San Francisco 49ers' pick during the second round of the NFL football draft Friday, April 27, 2018, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, left, and former player Merton...

The moments ticked away and seeing the best moment of his son's life began to appear more and more unlikely. A 7:10 p.m. first pitch means the National Anthem blares at 6:57. Gary Pettis scurried from the coaches room, up the stairs of the Astros' dugout and onto the first-base line to join the team.

Hand over heart while a high school band played the song, the Astros' third-base coach appeared stoic. His son, Dante, was a star receiver at Washington projected to be selected at some point during Friday night's second or third round of NFL Draft. Pettis watched the broadcast throughout pregame. Dante's name was not called.

The anthem finished and the band departed the field. Players jogged out to stretch and the public address announcer began reading the night's lineups.

"We still had a little time left for the first pitch so I said 'You know what, let me run back upstairs one more time just to check,'" Gary said Friday.

Gary walked in and the broadcast showed a trade. The San Francisco 49ers moved up to No. 44. Dante had visited them, along with the Patriots, Packers, Titans, Vikings and Broncos. Gary braced himself, thinking this could be the moment.

"I ran in the room and I heard them say 'With the 44th pick, the 49ers select Dante Pettis,'" Gary said. "And wow. It was awesome. I got to see it live."

Photo: Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Astros third base coach Gary Pettis got to see his son Dante go to San Francisco in the NFL draft.

Astros third base coach Gary Pettis got to see his son Dante go to...

There was no time to phone Dante at the large draft party gathered in San Clemente, Calif. Gary came back to the dugout where word began to spread. Manager A.J. Hinch patted him on the back and gave a hug. Players and coaches cycled through to offer their congratulations.

The team announced the selection between the third and fourth inning, too, projecting Dante's photo on the screen at Minute Maid Park.

"My kids have been here in Houston and they would always come in the clubhouse so they know a lot of the guys here," Gary said. "They were pulling for him to get drafted as well — they didn't know where — but it was a good feeling when everyone else is involved."

In his college career, Dante set an NCAA record with nine career punt returns for touchdowns. He won the Jet Award last week as college football's best return specialist. Unbeknownst to him, Gary was granted a rare off day by the Astros to attend the ceremony. Father surprised son.

Gary knew he'd miss the NFL Draft and Dante's selection in person. The unpredictability of the three-day event made it impossible for him to request a day off. Surprising him at that awards ceremony was special and the realization of what was to come — something Gary saw early.

"Sometimes we see things that our kids do when they're younger and you don't really know what they're doing," Gary said. "But I can remember him, as I'm sitting on the couch watching TV, he would run and dive over me with the Nerf football. He was making diving catches then, so I guess he was probably training himself before we actually knew he was training himself to be an NFL wide receiver."

The game ended unceremoniously, a seven-run loss for the Astros during which Gary had one critical decision. He waved home George Springer from second base on Carlos Correa's hard-hit single in the fourth inning, scoring the team's only run.

When he arrived back to the clubhouse, a red 49ers hat awaited him. And he finally called the team's newest member.

"A lot of excitement," Gary said. "Obviously I wish I could be there, but I have a job to do as well. I'll go home and give him a call again and we'll rehash everything all over and I'll get the actual way he felt when it happened because we haven't had a chance to really talk about that."

A brief meeting with reporters concluded and Gary ambled from the clubhouse, 49ers hat in hand.

"There were a lot of teams we felt he could possibly go," Gary said. "We just didn't know when. And when it happened, it was great."